Bulog Chief Assures Strategic Food Prices Stable in Semarang

Jakarta — Perum Bulog’s Chief Executive Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani has affirmed that supplies of strategic food commodities are in a secure condition and sufficient to meet public demand through Idul Fitri, including in the Semarang region of Central Java.

“We have experience maintaining price stability during the Christmas and New Year period (2025/2026). We hope that conditions will remain stable during Ramadan through Idul Fitri (2026),” Rizal stated in comments confirmed in Jakarta on Sunday.

Rizal disclosed that he had conducted spot checks on prices and availability of basic necessities at several traditional markets in Semarang, namely Johar Market, Kepanjen Market, and Kanjengan Market.

The activity was carried out as a concrete step to ensure supply stability and food prices during the holy month of Ramadan and ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah/2026 CE.

The inspections were accompanied by Perum Bulog’s Director of Procurement Prihasto Setyanto, Bulog Regional Chief for Central Java Sri Muniati, and coordinated with the Industrial and Trade Services of the Province and Semarang City, as well as the Food Task Force.

Based on the results of inspections conducted on Friday (27 February), Rizal stated, basic commodity prices were generally monitored as remaining relatively stable and still in line with the maximum retail price (HET) set by the government.

Premium rice prices stood at Rp14,900/kg, medium-grade rice at Rp13,500/kg, and subsidised rice at Rp12,500/kg.

For beef prices, records showed a decline from Rp140,000/kg to Rp130,000/kg. Meanwhile, chicken prices were in the range of Rp35,000/kg, down from the previous day’s Rp40,000/kg. Red chilli prices were around Rp32,000/kg.

“We want to ensure that the public can obtain basic necessities at reasonable prices in accordance with regulations,” Rizal stated.

He affirmed that intensified monitoring would be conducted throughout Ramadan 2026 to ensure stock sufficiency and price stability in the market.

As part of efforts towards transparency and strengthening oversight, the government through the Ministry of Trade has posted a list of basic necessity prices to serve as a reference for traders and consumers.

The price list also functions as a control instrument for the Food Task Force to ensure no violations of HET regulations occur.

Beyond monitoring, the agency also conducts outreach to traders to ensure they continue to sell commodities in accordance with applicable rules and to maintain a healthy and conducive trading ecosystem that does not harm either consumers or businesses.

“This represents cross-sector synergy among food SOEs, regional governments, relevant ministries, and enforcement agencies in maintaining supply stabilisation and national food prices,” Rizal stated.

With solid coordination, Rizal continued, market conditions are expected to remain controlled so that the public can observe Ramadan worship and welcome Idul Fitri with a sense of security and comfort.

Perum Bulog currently manages more than 3 million tonnes of government rice reserves.